408 POLL-EVIL. 



mation should be combated by cold antiseptic applications, made 

 with a towel folded several times and fastened to the mane. Slight 

 steady pressure also favours reabsorption of extravasated blood. 

 The halter must be removed, and the animal placed loose in a box, 

 and kept from work. Where a box cannot be obtained, a neck 

 strap may be applied instead of a head collar. As soon as acute 

 inflammatory symptoms have somewhat receded, gentle massage 

 with mildly stimulating applications is indicated. Blistering with 

 sublimate or iodide of mercury ointment has been recommended, 

 but should only be practised with great caution. 



As soon as abscess formation reveals infection, it is advisable 

 to provide for discharge of pus at the earliest possible moment, but 

 care must be taken not to injure the occipital artery. Should this 

 or one of its branches be cut, bleeding may be stopped by ligature 

 or a compress. The incision must be wide and deep enough to 

 allow free exit to the pus, and, if necessary, counter openings should 

 be made and gauze or tube drains inserted. When necrosis of 

 the ligamentum nuchse has taken place, resection of the funicular 

 portion may become necessary ; it is easily effected even in the 

 standing position with a tenotome. The necrotic material is removed, 

 and the pus washed from the abscess cavity once or twice 

 daily. The fear that difficulty in lifting the head may follow is 

 said by Hertwig to be unfounded. Even after resection of portions 

 of the ligamentum nuchas the patient soon lifts its head as high and 

 moves it as freely as before. Subcutaneous section of the ligamentum 

 nuchse, recommended by Lafosse, can only be advised where there 

 is some prospect of maintaining asepsis. But section of the liga- 

 mentum nucha? is not to be lightly adventured on. Under any 

 circumstances, division of the skin across the top of the neck is to 

 be avoided, as it gives rise to wounds which heal with difficulty. 

 In disease at the side of the neck, the knife must be employed 

 freely, and, where possible, the sinus laid open to its termination. 

 The same courageous use of the knife is called for in providing exit 

 for pus burrowing amongst the muscles of the neck. 



Infection may extend to the occipital bone and occipito-atloid 

 ligament, causing arthritis and septic meningitis, with compression 

 of the spinal cord. As a rule, treatment is not justified in cases of 

 this kind, though, where the bone and ligament are alone involved, 

 free removal of diseased tissue with the knife and curette, followed 

 by continuous irrigation with an antiseptic solution may be tried. 

 Nuclein, administered subcutaneously, has been recommended. It 

 is said to limit extension of infection and arrest suppuration. 



